again
Americanadverb
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once more; another time; anew; in addition.
Will you spell your name again, please?
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in an additional case or instance; moreover; besides; furthermore.
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on the other hand.
It might happen, and again it might not.
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in return; back; in reply.
to answer again.
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to the same place or person.
to return again.
idioms
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as much again, twice as much.
She earns as much again as I do.
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again and again, with frequent repetition; often.
They went over the same arguments again and again.
adverb
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another or second time; once more; anew
he had to start again
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once more in a previously experienced or encountered place, state, or condition
he is ill again
he came back again
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in addition to the original amount, quantity, etc (esp in the phrases as much again; half as much again )
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(sentence modifier) on the other hand
he might come and then again he might not
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besides; also
she is beautiful and, again, intelligent
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archaic in reply; back
he answered again to the questioning voice
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continuously; repeatedly
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(used with a negative) any more; any longer
I don't eat pumpkin again
Pronunciation
By far the most common pronunciation of again, in all parts of the United States, is , with the same vowel heard in yet and pep. The pronunciation , rhyming with pain, occurs chiefly in the Atlantic states. Again said as , with the vowel of pit or sip, or with a vowel somewhere between and , is the common pronunciation in much of the South, where and tend to become neutralized, or more like one another, before and , leading to a lack of noticeable distinction between such pairs as pen and pin, ten and tin.
Etymology
Origin of again
First recorded before 900; Middle English agayn, ageyn, Old English ongegn “opposite (to),” equivalent to on “ on, in” ( see a- 1) + gegn “straigh”t; cognate with Old High German ingagan, Old Norse igegn
Explanation
When you repeat something or it happens more than once, it happens again. Every morning you wake up again. When you return to something or somewhere, you go back again. If someone sees you every day, they might say "You again?" Some dogs bark again and again and again — they just keep barking. In sports, some teams keep wining again and again. If something happens just once, it doesn't happen again. Sometimes this word is used when you want someone to repeat information, as in "So how are you two related again?"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Things only got worse, because Alemany’s home-field advantage came through again and again in a 9-6 Southern Section Division 2 victory.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
“We once again successfully navigated a challenging market and produced strong results,” Mistry said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
But after losing to City again in the league - setting up a straight fight for the title - Arteta and Arsenal seemed to grow into the challenge.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
PAMA’s members said their suppliers hiked prices in April, and again in May.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
She imagined herself in front of everybody, a poem in hand, and felt anxious again.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
